Cable-supported remotely actuable relay



United States Patent 3,247,347 CABLE-SUPPORTED REMOTELY ACTUABLE RELAYWesley N. Lindsay, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Jennings RadioManufacturing Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of DelawareFiled Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,698 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-144) Thisinvention relates to electrical relays and more particularly toelectrical relays having relatively large power handling capability.

Heretofore, electrical relays of large power handling capability havetended to be large, bulky and heavy. Re-

lays connecting and disconnecting two adjacent cable ends have in thepast been located on the nearest suitable sup-.

porting structure which often is some distance from such endsnecessitating the use of additional cable and resulting in additionalline loss.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a more compactrelay of relatively larger power handling capability than has formerlybeen possible and which may be located more nearly adjacent the cableends it is to connect and disconnect.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a contactconfiguration that will assist in arc quenching.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a compact, remotelyoperable relay of relatively large power handling capability which isenclosed in a vacuu-mized envelope.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription and drawings of a preferred form of this invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken generally in a plane indicated bylines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken in a plane indicatedby lines 3-4, of FIG. 2 and showing the contacts and shorting bar only.

In general terms, one form of the invention chosen for illustration, andshown in FIGS. l3 comprises collinear, generally cylindrical fixedcontacts 10, 11, shorting bar 12 for connecting and disconnecting saidcontacts, insulating rod 13 (FIG. 2) supporting shorting bar 12 at oneend, armature 14 supporting the other end of rod 13 and supported byspring 15, coil 16 for magnetically attracting armature 14 and causingshorting bar 12 to connect contacts 1G, 11 and vacuumized envelope 17.

Envelope 17 may be formed by two cylindrical outer sections 4, ofinsulating material such as ceramic fixedly secured to a centralcylindrical section 6 of brass or the like. This central section may beprovided with a pair of radially inwardly extending flanges 7, 8 at itsopposite ends so as to receive the inner ends of ceramic sections 4, 5.The surfaces of ceramic to be joined with flanges 7, 8 may be metallizedin the conventional manner so that the three cylindrical pieces may beintegrally secured together by brazing.

Extending outwardly from the central section 6 is a smaller diametermetallic cylinder 21 which is closed at its remote end by a cap plate2-2. Cylinder 21 is brazed at its inner end to central section 6 so asto provide a vacuum tight joint.

The outer ends of ceramic sections 4, 5 may be provided with closures2-3, 24 respectively to which are secured the contacts 10, 11. Saidclosures are, of course, vacuum tight relative to the cylindricalsections and the contacts 10, 11.

The remote ends of contacts 10, 11 are provided with recesses 28, 29respectively, for receiving the ends of cable conductors 30, 31. Aftersaid conductors have been mounted in said recesses a covering of epoxycement 32 may be used between the ends of cylindrical sections 4 and 5and cable insulation 33 to provide electrical insulation for the exposedportion of conductors 30, 31 and the remote ends of contacts 10, 11.

The adjacent ends of contacts 10, 11 are spaced apart and provided withslanted fiat contact surfaces 36, 37, respectively (FIG. 3). Saidcontact surfaces 36, 37 are disposed at an angle of approximately 45with respect to the plane normal to the axis of contacts 10, 1'1 andalso face generally towards shorting bar 12 (FIG. 3).

Sh-orting bar 12 comprises a generally rectangular section copper orother suitable conducting material provided With slanting contactsurfaces 38, 3-9 complementarily formed relative to surfaces 36, 37respectively for engagement therewith. Contacts 10, 11 are also formedfrom copper or other suitable conducting material.

Insulating rod 13 is mounted at right angles to shorting bar 12 and isfixedly secured thereto at one end in any suitable manner. At its otherend, rod 13 is mounted to one end of an armature 14- comprising arectangular block of iron or other ferromagnetic material. The end ofarmature 14 opposite rod 13 is mounted .on a cantilever spring 15 whichin turn is supported by end cap 22 so as to normally hold shorting bar12 away from contacts 10, 11. Thus rod 13, armature 14 and spring 15 areenclosed within cylinder 21.

Electromagnet 16 .is .mounted outside of but adjacent cylinder 21, andis positioned for pulling armature 14 in the direction which causesshorting bar 12 to engage contacts 10, 11 simultaneously when said coilis energized. When coil 16 is deenergized, spring 15 causes shorting bar12 to be disengaged from contacts 10, 1 1 simultaneously. Thus thedevice of this invention is provided with a double-break contactstructure which quenches arcs more quickly than would a single break.Since the arc is quenched more quickly, the contacts and the switch havea longer life.

Because of its compact construction, this device occupies only slightlymore space than does a section of insulated cable, and also weighs lessthan conventional high voltage switching apparatus.

The invention is not restricted to the use of an electromagnet to moveshorting bar 12. Other conventional arrangements such as a bellowsactuated insulated rod and shorting bar may be used in place of coil 16and armature 14.

Vapor condensing surfaces such as annular ridges 42 on contacts 10, 11may be provided to minimize the deposit of conductive materials on theceramic sections. In addition suitable shields (not shown) may beprovided to control the dispersion of vaporized metal from the contactsand shorting bar.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis to be understood that modifications and design changes which wouldappear necessary or desirable to a person skilled in the art are withinthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cable relay of relatively large power handling capabilitycomprising: a pair of fixed contacts attached respectively to andsupported by a pair of spaced apart collinear electrical cable ends andprovided with engageable contact surfaces at their adjacent ends, ashorting bar adapted to engage said contact surfaces for completing anelectrical circuit through said fixed contacts, remotely actuated meansfor moving said shorting bar into substantially simultaneous engagementwith said contact surfaces for connecting said fixed contacts inresponse to remote actuation of said last mentioned means, a vacuumizedenvelope supported on said collinear electrical cable ends and enclosingsaid shorting bar and the adjacent ends of said fixed contacts, andmeans within the envelope to effect disengagementof the shorting barfrom the fixed contacts upon deenergization of said remotely actuatedmeans.

2. A cable relay of relatively large power handling capabilitycomprising: a pair of fixed contacts attached respectively to a pair ofspaced apart collinear electrical cable ends and provided withengageable divergent contact surfaces at their adjacent ends, a shortingbar having contact surfaces complementary to the divergent contactsurfaces of said fixed contacts and adapted to engage said contactsurfaces for completing an electrical circuit through said fixedcontacts, remotely energizable electromagnetic means supported on saidcollinear electrical cable ends for moving said shorting bar intosubstantially simultaneous engagement with said contact surfaces, avacuumized envelope enclosing said shorting bar and the adjacent ends ofsaid fixed contacts, and resilient mechanical means independent ofambient pressure to disengage the shorting bar from the fixed contactsupon deenergization of the electromagnetic means.

3. A cable relay of relatively large power handling capabilitycomprising: a pair of fixed contacts to be attached respectively to apair of spaced apart collinear electrical cable ends and provided withengageable contact surfaces at their adjacent ends, a shorting baradapted to engage said contact surfaces for completing an electricalcircuit through said fixed contacts, a vacuumized envelope enclosingsaid shorting bar and the adjacent ends of said fixed contacts, anarmature, a spring supporting one end of said armature, an insulatingrod joining the other end of said armature and said shorting bar forsupporting said shorting bar, said armature, spring and insulating rodbeing within said vacuumized envelope, said spring being adapted to urgesaid shorting bar away from said contact surfaces, a solenoid outsidesaid envelope positioned for attracting said armature in a direction asto urge said shorting bar into substantially simultaneous engagementwithsaid contact surfaces when said solenoid is energized, whereby remotelycaused energization of said solenoid will bring said shorting bar intosubstantially simultaneous engagement with said contact surfaces forcompleting an electrical circuit through said fixed contacts, whileremotely caused deenergization of said solenoid will allow said springto cause substantially simultaneous disengagement of said shorting barfrom said contact surfaces for breaking an electrical circuit throughsaid fixed contacts with an arc of relatively decreased duration.

4. A cable relay of relatively large power handling capability adaptedto be physically interposed directly between and to be supported by theadjacent pair of end portions of an electrically conductive cablecomprising: a pair of spaced axially aligned fixed contacts attachedrespectively to the pair of spaced apart collinear electrical cableends, envelope means enclosing the fixed contacts and supported directlyby the electrical cable end portions, a shorting bar within the envelopemovable from a first position to a second position to engage said fixedcontacts for completing an electrical circuit through the same, remotelyactuated means outside the envelope selectively energizable to move saidshorting bar into engagement with said fixed contacts, and means withinthe envelope to effect disengagement of the shorting bar from the fixedcontacts and return to said first position upon deenergization of saidremotely actuated means.

5. A cable relay of relatively large power handling capability for usewith insulated cable and adapted to be physically interposed in thecable in a manner to provide a Selective electrical discontinuity insaid cable while preserving its mechanical integrity by means occupyingonly slightly more space than the insulated cable comprising: a pair offixed contacts carried by the pair of spaced apart collinear electricalcable ends and provided with angularly disposed diverging contactsurfaces at their adjacent ends slanted with respect to a plane normalto the axis of said fixed contacts at an angle less than a shorting barhaving complimentarily angularly disposed contact surfaces movable towedgingly engage said complementary contact surfaces for completing anelectrical circuit through said fixed contacts, a vacuumizedenvelopeenclosing said shorting bar and the adjacent ends of said fixedcontacts, and remotely controlled means for moving said shortening barinto substantially simultaneous wedging engagement or disengagement withsaid fixed contact surfaces in response to remote control of said lastmen-' tioned means.

6. The combination according to claim 4, in which a plurality ofradially extending vapor condensing annular ridges are providedinterposed between the fixed contacts and an adjacent dielectric portionof the envelope to minimize the deposition thereon of vaporized contactmetal from the fixed contacts.

7. The combination according to claim 4, in which said envelope meansincludes a pair of axially aligned dielectric end portions hermeticallysealed to associated cable ends, a center metallic portion hermeticallyuniting adjacent ends of the axially aligned dielectric end portions andaxially aligned therewith, and a transversely extending portionsupported on said center portion.

8. The combination according to claim 7, in which said means to effectdisengagement of said shorting bar from the fixed contacts is enclosedwithin said transversely extending envelope portion.

9. The combination according to claim 8, in which said means effectingdisengagement of the shorting bar from the fixed contacts comprises acantilever spring member having one end supported on the transverselyextending envelope portion and its other end connected to the shortingbar to normally retain the shorting bar out of engagement with the fixedcontacts.

10. The combination according to claim 9, in which a ferromagneticarmature member is supported within the transversely extending envelopeportion responsive to the remotely actuated means outside the envelopeto flex the cantilever spring to effect movement of the shorting barinto engagement with the fixed contacts.

11. The combination according to claim 10, in which means are providedinterposed between the armature and the shorting bar to electricallyinsulate the armature and the transversely extending envelope portionfrom the shorting bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,851 7/1931Prince 200-144 2,434,909 1/1948 Curtis 200-87 2,771,529 11/1956 Kostriza200153 2,834,847 5/ 1958 Jennings ZOO-87 2,834,848 5/ 1958 EllwoodZOO-87 2,981,813 4/ 1961 Jennings 200144 3,001,053 9/1961 Rubin 200163,040,212 6/1962 Hermann et a1 200-144 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,177,546 12/1958France.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, BERNARD A.

GILHEANY, Examiners.

1. A CABLE RELAY OF RELATIVELY LARGE POWER HANDLING CAPABILITY COMPRISING: A PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS ATTACHED RESPECTIVELY TO AND SUPPORTED BY A PAIR OF SPACED APART COLLINEAR ELECTRICAL CABLE ENDS AND PROVIDED WITH ENGAGEABLE CONTACT SURFACES AT THEIR ADJACENT ENDS, A SHORTING BAR ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID CONTACT SURFACES FOR COMPLETING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THROUGH SAID FIXED CONTACTS, REMOTELY ACTUATED MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SHORTING BAR INTO SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT SURFACES FOR CONNECTING SAID FIXED CONTACTS IN RESPONSE TO REMOTE ACTUATION OF SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS, A VACUUMIZED ENVELOPE SUPORTED ON SAID COLLINEAR ELECTRICAL CABLE ENDS AND ENCLOSING SAID SHORTING BAR AND THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FIXED CONTACTS, AND MEANS WITHIN THE ENVELOPE TO EFFECT DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHORTING BAR FROM THE FIXED CONTACTS UPON DEENERGIZATION OF SAID REMOTELY ACTUATED MEANS. 